Oldham Council’s most controversial elected Member is in the headlines again as he eschews an increase in the allowance paid to him, as a ward councillor, for the second year running.
Cllr Lewis Quigg, first elected in May 2022 to the Royton North ward says:
“I have once again confirmed that I will NOT be taking the increase in my Councillors (sic) allowance. For the second year in a row.
“It is wrong given the state of the Councils (sic) finances and the difficulties individual’s (sic) in this town face that elected officials take an increase in allowances.
“I called for a FREEZE in allowances last year and was voted down. It is taxpayers money and it is right that money is spent wisely.”
A pensions analyst by vocation, Cllr Quigg saves money by living at home with his mum, Michele Stockton, a long-term Tory activist who regularly stands, unsuccessfully, in local elections and, in common with so many other caring mothers, acts as her son’s unpaid taxi service and helps with grammar and spelling.
What his statement doesn’t address at all well is that most councillors do not have the benefit of such living arrangements and the genuinely held public concern that being a local elected representative becomes the preserve only of the wealthy and privileged.
Lewis (pictured front left) is best known in Oldham for his prominent membership of an infamous, unruly group of political malcontents and axe-grinders, self-styled as ‘The Rabble’, who fund an unemployed Tameside-based conspiracy theorist, Raja Miah (pictured front centre).
Acting as Miah’s proxy in the civic chamber, coupled with his own childish demeanour and tantrums, has led to disciplinary problems, with at least three Standards complaints lodged against him. News of which was revealed, exclusively, yesterday by Neil Wilby Media.
Cllr Quigg is also alleged to have played a part in the complaints that led to the suspension of three of his Oldham Conservative councillor colleagues this week. Again, a Neil Wilby Media exclusive which can be followed
here.
His announcement about forgoing the councillor allowance, coming as it did amongst far more pressing public interest issues in which he is central, could well be characterised as a poorly thought out ‘dead cat distraction’.
Unfortunately for him, it has simply drawn more scrutiny to his own wider failings.
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Page last updated: Friday 24th November, 2023 at 0725 hours
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